Conquering a silent epidemic: the TN story

[Guest guest]

Conquering a silent epidemic: the TN story

Staff Reporter

New book documents 25-year history of AIDS in the State TANSACS `has

shown how a successful partnership can make a significant

contribution in controlling the epidemic'

CHENNAI : A new book on HIV/AIDS in the State in the past 25 years

takes the reader through the history of the disease since the first

case was diagnosed in the city in 1986, the response of the State,

non-government bodies and the way finance was arranged/spent to stem

the disease.

The book, released on Friday, is a joint effort by the University of

Madras, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and

the IndiaCLEN Trust in collaboration with CMC, Vellore, Tamil Nadu

State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS), AIDS Prevention and Control

Project (APAC), YRG Care and SAHAI Trust. The book was released at a

dissemination workshop on HIV/AIDS held in the city. Since 1992 the

State has, through TANSACS and APAC, set apart funds to contain and

prevent the disease and succeeded in bringing down the prevalence

rate from 1.13 per cent to 0.5 per cent.

T. Hopper, United States' Consul General, received the first

copy of the book `Tamilnadu Response to HIV/AIDS, 1986-2005:

Conquering a silent epidemic,' released by Health Minister, KKSSR

Ramachandran. Reaffirming the U.S. Government's commitment to

support the Indian Government in its fight against the epidemic, he

called for innovative approaches to keep up the momentum and address

new challenges. Recent data had shown that there was an increase in

prevalence among homosexuals and injecting drug users, " both of

which are causes for concern. "

Mr. Hopper congratulated the " policy makers and the implementing

organisations in stemming the tide of HIV/AIDS. " He said TANSACS

had " led the way in India as an example of how successful

partnership can make a significant contribution in controlling the

epidemic. Many other states in India have and are continuing to

learn from Tamil Nadu. " He also hailed the National AIDS Control

Organisation's efforts in spearheading HIV/AIDS programme in the

country.

He recalled that the USAID's support to the National AIDS Control

effort in India began in 1992 when the agency signed an agreement

with the Indian government to support HIV prevention and control

activities in Tamil Nadu through APAC. The project became a model of

HIV prevention in the country and complemented the State

Government's HIV/AIDS prevention activities.

In 2002, with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the

Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine in Tambaram had created a

centre of excellence for anti-retroviral therapy training and

management. In 2003, President Bush had announced the President's

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which aimed at capacity

building of local organisations, involvement of people living with

HIV/AIDS in decision-making and public-private partnership.

Supriya Sahu, project director of TANSACS, said future plans

included more testing services in remote areas and increasing more

preventive programmes. V.K. Subburaj, Health Secretary, attributed

the success of the prevention programme to involving communities,

research partners, NGOs, financial institutions and the affected

people. S.P. Thyagarajan, coordinator of the workshop, also spoke.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062419130400.htm